April 19, 2008

Game One Box Score |  Game Two Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Saturday, April 19, 2008) No one has ever questioned Elaine Fisher's toughness or competiveness but for those who have, she put both of those attributes on full display on Saturday afternoon against Ohio Valley Conference upstart Morehead State. After laboring through a tough 6-0 loss in game one she pitched a 5-1 gem in game two to save a crucial doubleheader split for the Redhawks softball team at the Southeast Softball Complex.

The Eagles (27-11, 12-6 OVC) seemed poised to repeat their performance against Fisher and the Redhawks (22-22, 9-10 OVC) in game one when they opened up game two with consecutive singles. Those two runners moved into scoring position with one out before Fisher returned a comebacker to the circle home to get Bri Jones forced out for out number two. Eagles Head Coach Holly Bruder then called for the double steal which the Redhawks played perfectly as they trapped Kari Quinn in a third to home rundown. Quinn slid hard into home and into Fisher who tagged her for the final out.

Fisher was banged-up in the play and laid on the ground for a moment before popping up and brushing herself off. She did the same with the Eagles after the adventurous first inning allowing only one unearned run in the second inning as she pitched her 21st complete game in 27 starts for her 17th win of the season.

The Redhawks offense fed off of her as they showed determination in not allowing a team that earlier in the season no-hit their powerful offense as they touched that very same pitcher that no-hit them for five runs on eight hits including a three-run sixth that put the game out of reach.

Holding on to a 2-1 lead Alex Ramirez (Corona, CA/El Modena) started the sixth with her team-high 21st walk of the season. Allie Borowiak (Nashville, IL/John A. Logan CC) came in to pinch run for her. Designated player Whitney Dupuis (Sulphur, LA/Sulphur) then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Borowiak to second. Katie Otterness (Schaumburg, IL/Hoffman Estates) then singled through the right side to move Borowiak to third. Carmen Fowler (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) doubled to deep center to plate Borowiak.

Michelle Summers (Glendale, CA/Hoover) followed Fowler's double with one of her own as she crushed a 3-2 pitch off the centerfield fence to drive in Otterness and Fowler and knock Eagles starting pitcher Kari Quinn from the game after 5.1 innings of work.

The Redhawks got on the board first in game two scoring on an Eagles error in the bottom of the first. The Eagles answered with their run in the second before the Redhawks grabbed the lead permanently in the third inning.

Jennifer Vasquez (Placentia, CA/El Dorado) reached on a one-out single. Megan McDonald (Cape Girardeau, MO/Cape Central) followed suit moving Vasquez to second. Stacia Dopudja (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic) reached on an error by the Eagles shortstop to load the bases. Lauren Bradley (Overland Park, KS/Shawnee Mission South) then lifted a Quinn pitch to leftfield that was deep enough for Vasquez to score the game-winning run.

Summers and Vasquez each went 2-4 with doubles from the plate. Vasquez extended her hitting streak to four games.

For Summers it was her 45th career double moving her out of a first place tie with McDonald for the career mark. It was also her team-high 18th multi-hit game of the season

The runs the Redhawks scored in game two snapped a two-game scoreless streak against the Eagles who blanked the Redhawks in the opening game behind Alex Gjevre's one-hitter.

The Eagles jumped on the Redhawks early scoring two runs in the opening frame and four in the third off of Fisher who was relieved by Dupuis, who turned in her second-straight solid appearance. Dupuis shutout the Eagles through four innings allowing only one hit, striking out two and not issuing a walk.

Gjevre (14-4) got the shutout win in six innings of work, striking out four Redhawks and allowing only a Vasquez fourth inning double.

Tomorrow both teams conclude the series with a single game at the "Plex' with first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m.